Fluid flow indicator



Sept. 28, 1954 oos FLUID FLOW INDICATOR Filed Jan. 14, 1952 J12 V612 onPatented Sept. 28, 1954 FLUID FLOW INDICATOR Franz Boos,'Emmelshausen(Hunsruck), Germany Application January 14, 1952, Serial No. 266,437

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a testing and indicating device for thecondition of the fuel feeding means especially of motor vehicles.

Engine trouble, particularly when it occurs on the road where noassistance is hear at hand, is very unpleasant. What makes the situationthen even more disagreeable is that the cause of the trouble is in mostcases not easily detectable. Frequently the trouble is due to thecarburetor refusing to work, or to defects of the fuel feeding means.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of simpleconstruction which makes it easy for the driver of the vehicle todiscover the cause of the trouble. The apparatus of the invention has tobe arranged in the vehicle at a place positioned above the horizontalplane in which the carburetor is arranged, provided that petrol orgasoline is being used as a fuel. In case of diesel engines theapparatus has to be positioned above the filter. The place best suitedfor the arrangement of the device is the instrument board.

According to the invention the apparatus consists of a container ofglass or other transparent material which is divided by a partition intotwo chambers. The apparatus is arranged in the feed path of the fuel ona supporting member, whereby between the glass-container and thesupporting member the necessary packing means are interposed. Theapparatus is so devised that it informs the driver of the vehicle at anymoment about the condition of the fuel feeding means with the inclusionof the carburetor, or of the filter in case of diesel engines.

When the motor is running the apparatus indicates: If the pump isfeeding the fuel in an orderly way; if the pump is feeding air; if thepump is feeding both fuel and air; if the pump does not work at all; ifthe float valve, nozzle, or crude oil filter are clogged; theapproximate pressure of the feed pump.

When the motor is at rest the apparatus indicates: If the valves of thefeed pump and the carburetor are leaky, and, in case of diesel engines,if the overpressure valve at the filter, or if the conduits to andincluding the injection pump are out of order.

My invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which I haveillustrated by way of example an embodiment of my invention. However, Iwish to say that my invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawings, but may be changed or modified, solong as such changes or modifications mark, no material departure fromthe salient features of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by the samereference numerals:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line IIII of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral I denotesa container of any suitable shape and consisting of glass or othertransparent material. The interior of the container l is divided bymeans of the partition 2, reaching up to approximately half the heightof the interior of the container, into two chambers 3 and i. Thecontainer l is fastened on the supporting member 1 by means of a ball 8,whereby between the container I and the supporting member l the packingmeans 9 are interposed. The supporting member I is provided with thefuel channels 6 and 5 leading into and out of the chambers 4 and 3,respectively.

When arranged in the feed path of the fuel the device works as follows:

When the motor is running the chambers 3 and i are filled up with fuel,whereby the fuel level rises above the upper end of the partition 2.When the chamber 3, positioned on the carburetor-side of the device, isempty and air is bubbling up in the chamber 4, it means that there is aleak in the suction pipe or the pump. Or, if there is fuel in both ofthe chambers 4 and 3, but some air bubbles are rising in the chamber onthe pump-side of the device, there should be a small leak in the suctionpipe or pump. If the motor refuses to work for lack of fuel although thechambers are filled up with fuel, it means that either the float valveor the injection nozzles are clogged, provided that petrol or gasolineis being used. In case of diesel engines, it means that the filter isdirty. If the air cushion in the upper ortion of the container I is toosmall, it indicates that the pump pressure is too high. On the otherhand, if the air cushion is too big, it means that the pump pressure istoo low. When the motor is at rest, or when the pump is not working, thedevice indicates as follows: If the fuel runs out of the chamber 4 itmeans that the valves of the fuel pump are out of order. If the fuelruns out of the chamber 3 it indicates that the carburetor is out oforder. It is hard to start the vehicle then, and there is a constantloss of fuel. If, in case of diesel engines, the chamber 3, positionedon the filter-side of the device, is empty it means that either thepressure valve at the filter or the conduits to and inclusive of theinjection pump are leaky.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A testing and fault detecting device, particularly for motorvehicles, comprising in combination a supporting member adapted to beconnected up in the fuel feed conduit and having an inlet passage and anoutlet passage, the two passages each extending from the fuel conduit toa point in the wall of the supporting member short of the middle of thelength thereof, a container of transparent material detachably fitted onsaid supporting member over said passages, a partition Wall dividing thelower portion of said container into two chambers with freeintercommunication above the top edge of the partition Wall, and meansfor securing said container in position on said supporting member sothat the inlet passage communicates with one chamber 4 and the outletpassage with the other chamber.

2. A testing and fault detecting device as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe chambers have approximately the same capacity and the crosssectionarea of each chamber is considerably greater than that of the passagewith which it is in communication.

3. A testing and fault detecting device as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe partition wall extends approximately half Way up the containerleaving a free space at the upper end of the container for the passageof fuel from one chamber to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,038,155 Koehler Sept. 10, 1912 1,161,279 Anderson Nov. 23,1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 241,445 Switzerland Mar. 15,1946 455,733 France May 31, 1913

